Jelani Day: Officials ID Missing Illinois State University Student's Body

Officials have confirmed that they’ve found the body of missing Illinois State University student Jelani Day.

Day, 25, has been missing for about a month under “unknown circumstances.” He was last seen on August 24.

The LaSalle County Coroner’s Office identified Day on Thursday (September 23), using forensic dental identification and DNA testing and comparison. Day’s cause of death remains unknown as of publication time on Thursday afternoon, pending a multi-agency investigation and toxicology testing, the Bloomington (Illinois) Police Department stated in a press release Thursday.

Police say Day was reported missing on August 25. His family hadn’t spoken with him since August 23, and hadn’t been to class at Illinois State University. He was last seen at Beyond Hello in Bloomington on August 24 at 9:21 a.m. The Peru Police Department confirmed that Day's vehicle was found on August 26, but “subsequent searches” to find the missing Illinois State student were unsuccessful.

Officials previously confirmed that a search team found an unidentified body around 9:47 a.m. on September 4, off the bank of the Illinois River and east of the Illinois Route 252 bridge. As the LaSalle County Coroner’s Office began investigating the then-unidentified person’s death, the Bloomington Police Department asked the public at that time to “refrain from speculation as the investigation remains ongoing and could take considerable time.”

Day’s family has pleaded for help in the investigation, including to involve federal agencies. Carmen Bolden Day, Jelani’s mother, previously told St. Louis-based Fox 2 Now: “Nothing is more important to me than getting Jelani back.”

Police urged Thursday:

“Anyone with any information please contact the LaSalle County Sheriff’s Office at 815-433-2161”